Şırnak deputy head from AKP shot dead

Written By THA on Thursday, 17 May 2012 | 23:18

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) deputy provincial head for the southeastern province of Şırnak was murdered last night in front of his house.

Unknown suspects opened fire on Ali Kılınç, 48, at around 7:30 p.m., critically wounding him in the head and the chest. He was immediately taken to Şırnak state hospital, where he died later the same night. A preliminary forensic medicine autopsy report showed that Kılınç was shot three times with a bullet in his head and body. The report also revealed that Kılınç was shot with a 7.65 mm gun with a silencer.

Police searched several places, including the local Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) headquarters and detained 20 people in the city. Two officials from the BDP are among the detained, according to reports.

AKP officials said that it’s very early to comment on the issue whether the murder has a political motive or not. Speaking to the Daily News in a telephone interview, AKP Şırnak deputy Mehmet Emin Dindar said that an investigation was launched to apprehend the assailants. “We don’t have exact information on the issue at the moment, there is an ongoing investigation. He did not have any problems with anybody. We cannot say the murder has a political motive or not at the moment,” he said.

Members of the PKK had reportedly kidnapped the Justice and Development Party (AKP)’s district chairman for the southeastern province of Diyarbakır’s Kulp district, Veysel Çelik, on May 13. (ŞIRNAK - Doğan News Agency)